Ex-situ

Lemur leaf frogs maintained at Manchester Museum and Bristol Zoo in the UK are from one of the last remaining populations in Costa Rica, and the captive breeding of them was first started in 2001. Visits to Costa Rica by Manchester staff and students have also involved supporting in-situ conservation for the species at the CRARC. Over the years, young animals bred at Manchester Museum have been distributed to International Zoos, including Bristol Zoo in England, The Vancouver Aquarium, Canada, and The Atlanta Botanical Gardens in the US. Research and engagement work at Manchester Museum continues to support and highlight the need for focused amphibian conservation with this species.

Within the UK, Bristol Zoo have also been highly instrumental in taking captive breeding of the Costa Rican animals forward, and has also invested in a special amphipod dedicated to the species and situated at the zoo. Bristol Zoo has also produced husbandry guidelines for the species, and research at the BCA aims to develop specific guidelines for best practice in rearing Lemur Frogs as part of this project. Here students and staff will be particularly studying the beneficial effect of lighting provided by Arcadia and various dietary supplements.

A major aim of this project is to facilitate the establishment of a focused taxon group that will professionally manage a genetically-specific captive population of Costa Rican Agalychnis lemur for the future. Once a stud-book has been established based on DNA profiled specimens, captive-bred animals will be distributed along with the detailed husbandry guidelines to supportive institutions, including Nordens Ark in Sweden.